"Nancy spoke to over 10,000 young ladies at our Pi Phi Convention this past summer. She had a message for all. She is poised, articulate, attractive, and perhaps above all, she reaches out and touches all of the lives in her audience. Her story, although that of a celebrity, is easily identifiable to all.
Nancy's charm and message would interest all ages and men as well as women.
It was very special for me to meet and hear Nancy Hogshead."
"Ms. Hogshead is truly a professional who posses the rare talent of making the audience feel she is engaged in a private conversation with each of them, as opposed to talking at them. As I speak with our members about their summer experiences, I realize how much she motivated them, and what a tremendous impact she made on their lives."
Four-Time Olympic Medalist (Three Gold & One Silver)
Former President of the Women's Sports Foundation
Co-author of Equal Play; Title IX and Social Change
Co-Author of NCAA Pregnant and Parenting Student Athletes: Resources and Model Policies
1993 National Association for Sports and Physical Education Hall of Fame
2001 International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame
2002 Honorary Doctorate from Springfield College
2007 One of the Most Influential People in the 35-Year History of Title IX by Sports Illustrated
2008 Academic All-America Hall of Fame
Born On: April 17, 1962
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Resides: Jacksonville, Florida
Education: Duke University '86; Georgetown University Law '97
Height: 5' 10
Speaking Topics: Title IX, Women’s Rights, Women of Achievement, Diversity, Health and Wellness, Asthma, Overcoming Obstacles, Leadership Development and Seminars
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, began competitive swimming early in life. Ranked number one in the world by the age of 14, she went undefeated in high school and college dual meets while competing for Duke University. Her accomplishment earned her a spot on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, but due to the U.S. boycott of the Games, the young athlete had to wait another four years to see her dream come true. At the 1984 Olympic Games, she won three gold medals and established herself one of the world’s premier swimmers. In 2000, Sports Illustrated named the Olympic swimmer Florida’s 13th greatest athlete of the 20th Century.
Asthma
Shortly after the Games, doctors diagnosed Hogshead with asthma. She learned how to keep asthma from interfering with her life and later became a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. The gold medal swimmer went on to write Asthma and Exercise, a book of inspirational stories from over 30 world class athletes who learned the secrets of asthma management to reach the highest levels of achievement.
Women’s Rights and Title IX
Hogshead-Makar has become one of the nation’s foremost advocates of Title IX, and her words have become one of her greatest strengths. Having benefitted from Title IX, the federal law giving women equality in education, Hogshead-Makar passionately pursued a college internship with the Women’s Sports Foundation. After her election to the Board of Trustees, she went on to serve as President of the Women’s Sports Foundation from 1992-1994, and currently serves as the organization’s Legal Advisor.
She co-authored Equal Play; Title IX and Social Change with Andrew Zimbalist and was the lead author of NCAA Pregnant and Parenting Student-Athletes: Resources And Model Policies. Hogshead-Makar has testified in Congress on gender equity in sports, written numerous published articles, and served as a guest on news programs such as 60 Minutes, CNN, Good Morning America, and ESPN. Hogshead-Makar is a tenured Professor of Law at the Florida Coastal School of Law, where she teaches Sports Law and Torts courses. In 2007, Sports Illustrated Magazine recognized her as one of the most influential people in the 35-year history of Title IX. She continues to make her mark on history by speaking with audiences across the country about gender equity and empowering women.
Hall of Fame Honors
Her commitment to sports and academics have been recognized throughout the world through induction into eleven halls of fames, including the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, International Swimming Hall of Fame, International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, and the Academic All-American Hall of Fame. The recipient of an honorary doctorate from Springfield College, Hogshead-Makar has paved the path for generations of women to come. Her words have become one of her most powerful tools as she speaks to universities, corporations, and non-profit organizations across the country about the power of sport and the importance of equal opportunities for all.
Hogshead-Makar resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Scott Makar, and their three children.
